EMERALD ISLE — The next municipal election will bring a change to the mayor’s seat in Emerald Isle.

Long-time Mayor Art Schools has said he will not seek re-election to another term. He’s completing 12 years in office and said it’s time to let someone else step in and take on the job.

“After 12 years things are going well, and I think it’s time to let someone else put their ideas in the mix,” Schools said Wednesday.

Schools said people started asking him several weeks ago if he planned to run again and he decided to go ahead and announce his decision Tuesday during a luncheon for town employees given each year by Chapel by the Sea Church in Emerald Isle.

He followed that up with an announcement Wednesday morning at a meeting of the Swansboro Area Chamber of Commerce.

Candidates begin filing for 2013 municipal elections in July, giving anyone interested in running for the mayor’s seat in Emerald Isle some time to consider.

Schools, who ran unopposed for mayor the past two elections, hopes to see the interest.

“It’s time for other people to get involved,” he said.

Schools said it has been a pleasure to serve the citizens of Emerald Isle.

“I’ve definitely enjoyed it, and I’d rather leave while I’m still enjoying it,” he said.

While he never ran for mayor thinking he’d be in office 12 years later, Schools said the opportunity to be involved in the town has kept him going.

“It has just been the interest in the job. Things keep coming up and people have seemed satisfied with the work I’ve done. I’ve just enjoyed being involved,” he said.

He said he has strived to keep Emerald Isle a community with citizen involvement and an atmosphere of cooperation and teamwork.

“My desire has always been to keep a community-type feel,” said Schools,